River Plate will stage its first friendly since the Gallardo era in San Luis, where early team changes will start to take shape.
As the Qatar World Cup 2022 fades into memory, attention returns to day-to-day club football. Less than a week after the national team kicked off the World Cup, River will welcome the new chapter with a meeting against Unión La Calera, marking the start of a post-Gallardo era and setting the tone for the season ahead.
With Martin Demichelis taking charge from the bench for the first time, the Millionaire will organize the preseason in San Luis before heading to Miami for the second leg of preparation and a trio of additional matches.
The Chilean opponent will visit La Pedrera on Thursday, December 22, with kickoff scheduled for 9:15 PM Argentine time.
LIST OF CALLED
Alongside the new coaching staff, a familiar face returns for the first gathering of the year. Matias Kranevitter stayed with the squad throughout the pre-season after leaving the club on a seven-year run, and he will be ready to take the field. Nacho Fernández remains unavailable as his return was confirmed for later dates.
Among those who were already part of the squad but will miss this event, the biggest absence is world champion Franco Armani, who will enjoy a brief break after his Qatar duties. Nicolás De la Cruz, another World Cup participant, is still in Uruguay on holiday and will join in the coming days. Juan Fernando Quintero is under contract through the year’s end but has yet to decide on his future and did not participate in the pre-season sessions. Tomás Lecanda, who returned from a loan at Aldosivi, is also out after suffering an ACL tear in his left knee last week, bringing an estimated six months of recovery.
EDUCATION
Ending the lengthy Gallardo era, when names and schedules shifted but style often remained consistent, River now faces the dawn of a new approach under Demichelis. The manager appears to favor a formation aligned with a traditional 4-1-3-2, a setup that introduces Matías Kranevitter as a central midfielder and Enzo Pérez in an advancing position behind the striking line. In defense, veteran leadership comes from Maidana in the center with Casco occupying the left side. Early signs point toward a balanced mix of solidity and playmaking in the midfield and attack.
Franco Petroli is drawing attention as the DT evaluates options, with Ezequiel Centurión possibly rotating in as a goalkeeper while Centurión featured in the later stages of a recent match. The plan is to distribute substitutes widely, ensuring the lineup in the second half remains competitive and fresh.
The initial XI being considered includes Franco Petroli, Andrés Herrera, Jonatan Maidana, David Martinez, Milton Casco, Matias Kranevitter at midfield, Santiago Simon, Enzo Perez, Agustin Palavecino, Pablo Solari, and Miguel Borja. The second-half arrangement may feature Ezekiel Centurión, Robert Rojas, Leandro González Pirez, Felipe Peña Biafore, Elias Gómez, Bruno Zuculini, Jose Paradela, Rodrigo Aliendro, Esequiel Barco, Matías Suárez, and Lucas Beltrán, ensuring a broad rotation across the defense, midfield, and attack.
REPLACEMENTS
Ezequiel Centurión, Robert Rojas, Leandro González Pirez, Felipe Peña Biafore, Elías Gómez, Bruno Zuculini, José Paradela, Rodrigo Aliendro, Esequiel Barco, Matías Suárez, Lucas Beltrán.
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